W(h)ither the Libertarian Party ?
We have not heard much from the Libertarian Party (LPUK) in the last few months. I had to suspend my ‘Libertarian Party Credibility Index’ on the Open Liberty Alliance at 5/100 after they were removed from Wikipedia having failed to stand even a single candidate in even a local election. I had wondered if the LPUK would simply wither on the vine however this may be premature since the announcement that Andrew Hunt will be standing as their (I understand sole) candidate in the upcoming national elections where he is standing in the ward of Wisbech South. It has to be good for the political process that there are parties to represent a variety of views and this will give an opportunity to see if there is any appetite for the LPUK.
http://lpuk.blogspot.com/2009/05/wisbech-standard-part-of-cosy.html
There remains a big question mark as to whether the Libertarian Party is the right place for even a Libertarian voter. We have an opportunity to point out to libertarians in Wisbech South that the right place for their vote is in the party of John Stuart Mill, Cobden, and Bright. The party that created many of the ideas that they hold dear; not in the confused policies of the Libertarian Party. This is the party that appeared to propose eliminating income tax without calculating into their figures the fact that corporation tax revenues would fall as more corporate profits were paid out as tax free salaries. I suspect that by standing against UKIP, another libertarian orientated party with some similar policies, they may fare poorly but the result will make interesting reading.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:44 am
LPUK’s monetary policy of increasing the money supply every year by printing more money should leave most genuine libertarians (especially fans of Austrian economics) very concerned.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:59 am
It’s a nice idea in theory, a bit like communism (though obviously diametrically opposite). But like communism, it can’t work in a place like Britain, there are pragmatic considerations to take into account; one of which Ed Joyce mentions and another which Richard mentions.
They’re an interesting part of the political landscape and I’m hoping they are symptomatic of a great liberal awakening in Britain. I’m hoping they all become Orange Bookers too.
May 21st, 2009 at 1:57 pm
You’d of thought that the LP would have made the most of the current debacle over MPs expenses. But no they haven’t made the most of it have they because libertarians typically rather debate, debate & intellectually masturbate rather then get active.
The UKLP will go the same way as the USLP & just be a debate club nothing more but as I say that’s the way libertarians want it. I guess they’d rather wallow in the idealism of how it should be then deal with the reality of having to compromise.
Sure there is Ron Paul who doesn’t compromise upon his principles but RP isn’t a libertarian in the strictness sense & you’ll find libertarian critics of him. You’ll find plenty of libertarian critics if you merely suggest the need for government because the majority of libertarians these days are anarcho-capitalists & certainly do want impose libertarianism in the strictest sense.
May 21st, 2009 at 1:59 pm
In fact listen to any edition of Free Talk Live & you’d hear why libertarians more often not fail something to do with ‘unrealistic expectations’ etc.
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 am
Sometimes it takes a crisis for people to pull their fingers out of their arses. Some of us realise that libertarianism didn’t start in a gun club in the deep south of the USA.
That self-same some of us are not frightened to go outside a-member-huntin’.
Ed: Do you really think it makes a blind bit of difference what the figures are given the current situation? Ditching income tax is priority #1 because it’s one of the biggest frauds out there, and because the negative knock-on effects of maintaining it are progressively corrosive to everyone’s freedom and prosperity.
Richard: what on earth are you blathering on about? The policy is to move towards ‘free banking’ ASAP.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Having spent the last couple of weekends helping Andrew with his campaign, I can’t say any of us were particularly worried by either the “Lib” Dems or UKIP. Despite the fact that they got quite a respectable result in the last election, the “Lib” Dems have put up a 20 year old student who doesn’t even live in the division, and who hasn’t bothered campaigning (not even a single leaflet drop). The UKIP candidate (who we doorstepped the weekend before last) has “Daily Mail reader” written all over him, so I don’t see him attracting many liberal voters either.
This is our first campaign, so I’m not going to try to make any prediction as to how many votes Andrew will get, but that’s not the main consideration at this point anyway. The main point is to raise the party’s profile and to gain experience, being as most of us are new to party politics. This campaign will serve as a prototype for future election campaigns. Speaking of which, we will be fielding candidates, both in the General Election and local elections. I don’t know exactly how many (and I wouldn’t be at liberty to say if I did) but when I went to the candidates’ meeting in London three weeks ago, the room was pretty full. Watch this space.
Better still, join us. You’ll enjoy being members of a liberal party.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Tell me you still putting up 9/11 truther kooks as candidates?
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:52 am
I don’t recall 9/11 entering the conversation during the recent activities. Are you still supporting a party that works against the things you believe in?
I look forward to seeing you on the Libertarian Party forum again, Ziggy.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:16 am
I’m still a Lib Dem supporter & the party might be advocating more for what I believe in if Mark & LV succeed
June 6th, 2009 at 7:40 am
It turned out to be a pretty good result, considering this was the first campaign by a previously unknown party fielding an inexperienced candidate. Better than I expected, actually. From little acorns…
Best of luck to the reformers trying to get the LDP on the right track (I mean that most sincerely, folks) but I honestly don’t think you’ve got a prayer – too much inertia in the other direction. Just remember there’s a natural home for you in the Libertarian Party.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Err we are liberals not libertarians so why would we want to join a libertarian party
Murray Rothbard sucks
June 6th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Ziggy, it just seems to me that although you and LV and all are doing your best to try and influence the Lib Dems in a different (and better) direction, I just don’t see it succeeding, just as Stuart said above.
Good job on FTL last night, btw.
June 6th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I had to cut short I needed a pee but I should be podcasting with Gard soon
June 7th, 2009 at 11:04 am
Btw Ziggy, I thought you were a member of the Libertarian Alliance.
June 7th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
What makes you think that?
June 7th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
“UKIP, another libertarian orientated party”
Er, no.
Perhaps a couple of years ago I’d have agreed but there has been a definite shift to the statist in UKIP. Sure there are libertarians who are members but the party does not support them, hence why no few of the members of LPUK are ex UKIP. Farage is particularly unfriendly to libertarians.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
How to establish and bloggers have the same blog, your blog I like.